Means for electrically welding tableware parts



Oct. 18, 1932. w. R. STOCKING MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY WELDING TABLEWAREPARTS 2 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Oct. 17, 1928 FIG. 1.

FIG. 3.

FIG 4.

INVENTQR. William R.5TEIG1CE ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 18, 1932. v w. R. STOCKING 1,883,067

' mums FOR ELEGTRICALLY WELDING TABLEWARE PARTS Original Filed Oct. 17,1928 ZSheets-Shee 2 FIG. 6.

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8 \55 FIG 11 f IG.12.

INVENTOR.

William R 5T1: ski-lg ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES WILLIAM R. STOCKING, F GLASTONBURY,CGNNECTICUEL MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY WELDING TABLEWARE PARTS Y Qriginalapplication filed October 17, 1928, Serial No. 313,1Q1. Divided and thisapplication filed March 18,

This invention relates to improved means for electrically butt welding ahandle com- )OSOd 0t non-ferrous metal to a stainless steel lade.

The Primary object of the invention is the provision of improvedelectrical butt welding apparatus by means of which a diestamped andfinished handle of non-ferrous metal may be quickly, securely andeconomicall butt welded to a die-stamped semi-finishe steel blade.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthecourse of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views,

Figure l is a plan view of the blade or as tool end of a piece oftableware, preferably a knife, showing its as formed prior to welding ofthe handle therewith.

Figure 2 is a view of an ornamental diestamped handle of non-ferrousmetal as formed prior to buttwelding the blade or working part of Figure1 thereto,

Figure 3 is a plan view of portions of the improved die as positionedupon a butt welding machine, for receiving the handle and so bladeportions prior to butt welding.

Figure 4 is a View showing the work engaging face of one of thecomplementary blade die parts.

Figure 5 is a view showing the work engaging face of the top part of thehandle holding die.

Figure 6 is a View showing the relation in which the die parts hold theblade and handle portions of the knife prior to the welding operation.

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line'i"'i' of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line S ofFigure 10.

Figures 9 and 10 are cross and fragmentary ion itudinal sectional viewstaken substantial y on their respective lines in Figure 6 of thedrawings.

Fig-are 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal sect-idnal view through theiimctnre of the Serial blade and handle ortions of the knife,immediately after we. ding.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the knife at the welded junctureof the bandle and blade portions, showing the finished connection.

in the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown only apreferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be noted that theapparatus for performing the welding operation has heretofore been setforth in my co-pending application Serial No. 313,161 filed Uctober 17,1928, of which this appli ation is a division. The blade or tool end 15of the article of tableware, tor purposes of this invention might justas Well be the prong end of a fork, or the bowl of a spoon. Theinvention, however, is particularly well adapted for the welding ofblades of knives using a non-ferrous handle and a stainless steel blade.The blade portion 15 is die-stamped and semi-finished prior to thewelding operation, and as above mentioned is entirely of stainlesssteel. The outline of the blade is stamped as shown in Figure 1,

and is provided with a bolster 16, diestainped thereon prior to thewelding operation, and at the opposite side of the bolster from theblade body 36 it is provided with a butt 1? of stainless steel, having aface 18 normal to the plane of the blade. This butt 1? is of appreciablelength and is adapted to form the foundation for electrical welding withthe handle.

The handle 19, shown in Figure 2, is of non-ferrous metal, such asnickel silver, German silver, or the like, and it is initiallydie-stamped prior to welding with the tool portion 15. lt is die-stampedand provided with line embossment or ornamentation 20, of approvedpattern, all of which is preterably die-stamped at the time of theformation of the handle 19. The handle 19 is provided with an annularbolster 21 thereabout, which at the opposite side from the handle properis provided with a metal welding butt 22 having a plane surface 23arranged normal to the longitudinal axis of the handle roper. The upperand lower surfaces of the utt 22 preferably taper in convergent relationfrom 100 the bolster 21 to the outer end of the butt, as

. tion, since it may more readily be forced into the easier fusible butt17. This arran ment enables a very strong butt weld to' accomplished. iI

It has heretofore been pro osed ,to butt weld blank pieces of metal ofifierent quali' 41 ties and characteristics, and subsequently die-stampthem into knife or tableware form. I have found, however, that byinitially diestampin the blade and handle portions into theirsiibstantially finished contour and formation, with the ornamentationinitially thereon, a more finely cut and ornamental knife is provided,which is heater in appearance, and which may be manufactured at areduced cost.

Special means have to be provided in order to' carry out the abovewelding operation. I provide knife blades and knife handle dies 25 and26 respectively, attached at 27 in detachable relatlon upon bed portions30 of a suitable electrical butt welding machine, as shown in Figures 3and 10 of the drawings. The blade supporting die 25 is provided with arather large detachable insert 31, of insulation, which referablypresents a fiat upper surface and is held in a recess in the top of theelectrode or die part 25. Its purpose is to prevent the knife blade frombeing pitted by hot particles of metal during the fusing of the'metal toprovide the butt weld and to firmly support the blade. A relativelysmall cylindrical insert 33, preferably of brass or other metal which isless ductile than copper, is embedded in the part 25,

and provides an arcuated convex surface 34 beyond an end of theinsulation 31, against which the blade portion 15 contacts immediatelyat the juncture of the bolster 16 with the blade body 36, as shown inFigure 10. The adjacent part of the die 25 is recessed at 39, that is,at the opposite side from the insulation 31, to receive the lower flangeof the bolster 16 when the blade rests upon the electrode 25. Of coursethe bolster is out of contact with the body part of the die in thisposition, as is shown in Figure 10.

With the blade 15 positioned'in this man ner upon the lower die orelectrode part 25, the butt end 17 projects beyond the adjacent endsurface 40 of the die part 25. i

The blade holding die or electrode construction 25 also includes a topdie part 41, complementary with the die part 25, which may be of otherdesign than that shown. It is preferably elongated and adapted to restat one end upon the blade body 36 at a relatively small cross section42, and at its opposite end it is provided with a downwardly 1 facingrecess 13 which receives the upper butt welding operation. However, itis quite apparent that the blade portion 15 is firmly held by thecomplementary die parts 25 and The handle die or electrode, partconsists of a lower die part 26, as above mentioned, which is secured ona bed part 30 of the electrical butt welding machine, in alignment withthe die art-25, but in end spaced relation therewit The die part 26inwardly of the upper fiat surface thereof is provided with alongitudinal recess 50, which is engraved in inta-glio, as shown at 51.This recess is formed to the contour of the forepart of the handle 19,so as to transversely embrace same as shown in Figure 9 and theengraving 51 receives the embossment or ornamentation 20 of the handlein conforming fitting relation therein, as protection'thercfor. At itsfront end the recess hasan enlargement 52 outletting upon the end face53 of the electrode 26. I

The handle portion 19 is placed upon the electrode part 26 so that theembossment thereon seats in conformity in the recess 50 and moreparticularly in the engraved grooving 51 therein; the lower flangeportion of the bolster 21 seating in the enlarged recess 52. This holdsthe handle portion 19 in proper position upon the die part 26, with thebutt end 22 projecting beyond the end face 53 of the die part 26, and inimmediate centered contact at its end face 23 with the face 18 of thebutt 17 of the blade 15, as is well shown in Figure 10 of the drawings.

Complementary with the handle portion electrode part 26 there isprovided an upper part 55, which has a recess 57 therein, as

shown in Figure 5, engraved in intaglio, as shown at 58, to receive theembossment or ornamentation 20 of the upper face of the handle 19, toprevent damage or marring thereto duringthe application of the'elecblade and handle portions are brought to- 1.,

gether in the machine, theblade portion is moved longitudinally againstthe butt 22 of the handle 19; permitting the wedgeshaped butt 22 toreadily enter into the fusible metal butt 17. The butt 17, of course,gets hotter than the non-ferrous metal, and breaks down where the weldis to be made, so that while the butt 22 is fused with the butt 17, themaior weld takes place within the area of the butt 17. This provides avery strong joint, and it is to be noted that the handle is held firmlyand immovably between its ends while the blade is moved at the instantthat the weld takes place. The dies are of solid copper with theexception of the insulation portion 31 and the metal insert 33. They donot heat to any appreciable extent, and if the dies are kept clean theinsert and plate portions would not have to be provided, but theyobviate pitting of the steel blade.

The relation of the butts 17 and 22 just rior to thewelding operation isshown in igures 6 and 10, and after being welded they provide aconnection 70 shown in Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings. It is finishedoff in an annularly grooved relation between the knife blade andhandle'bolsters, so that the joint after polishing is invisible.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts of thewelding apparatus and in the figured ornamentation provided in intaglioin the recesses thereof, to suit the embossment on the handle 19, maybe-made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the claims. I claim: 1. In a die for holding the blades of knives tobe provided with handles, the combination of a lower die portion ofcopper having an insulation blade resting surface thereon against whichthe blade may abut, and a second die portion cooperating in a clampingrelation upon the blade portion at the opposite side thereof withrespect to the first mentioned die portion. I

'2. In a die for holding the blades of knives to be provided withhandles, the combination of a lower die portion of copper having aninsulation blade resting surface thereon against which the blade mayabut, a second die portion cooperating in a clampingrelation upon theblade portion at the opposite side thereof with respect to the firstmentioned die portion, said die portions having bolster receivingrecesses in the facing sides thereof.

3. In a die for holding the blades of knives to be provided withhandles, the combination of a lower die ortion of copper having aninsulation bla e resting surface thereon against which the blade mayabut, a second die portion cooperating in a clamping relation upon theblade portion at the opposite side thereof with respect to; the firstmentioned die portion, said die portions having bolster rehaving thesurfaces thereof ornamentally engrayed for true complementary receptionof the finely embossed ornamental pattern de sign of the handle part asa protection therefor during the welding operation.

5. In a welding electrode having a recess,

a relatively small metal conductor piece upon" the electrode againstwhich the body to be welded rests, and a relatively large piece ofinsulating material in the recess for receiving thereupon other surfacesof the body to be welded to decrease conductor surface contact of thebody and firmly support the body to be welded on said electrode.

6. In a welding electrode the combination of a conductor body having apart adapted to conductively engage a surface of the body to be welded,and insulation means on said electrode adapted to engage another surfaceof the body to be welded in resting relation thereon. o

7. In a welding electrode construction for welding a metal handle to asteel blade which has bolster flanges laterally extending beyond weldinga metal handle to a steel blade which has bolster flanges laterallyextending beyond the opposite sidesof the plane of the blade, and at thewelding end thereof, the combination of a pair of complementary copperelectrode parts having bolster receiving recesses in the facing surfacesthereof, and a bolster abutting metal insert fixed with at least one ofsaid electrode parts at the bolster receivingrecess thereof and formedof metal appreciably less ductible than the copper of said electrodepart.

WILLIAM R. STOCKING.

